Mechanism fob gutting and looping



Nov. 21, 1944. c. G. HICKS MECHANISM FOR CUTTING'AND LOOPING SPRINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $625 INVENTOR. Z/

M5 Arrozuz/ Original Filed July 25, 1941 .1: I 9 BY 29 NOV. 21, 1944. c HICKS Re. 22,567

I MECHANISM FOR CUTTING AND LOOPING SPRINGS Original Filed July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 illllllillllllllllllllllmllllI):

5 15' WWII!!! lmlllllllmm 65k amas IN VENTOR.

A05 JWMEK Reissued Nov. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES: PATENT: or'slac Ef MECHANISM FOR GUTTING AND LQOPING SPRINGS Carl G. Hicks, Chicago, Ill, assignor toMauri'ce' '1 Williams and Ralph'E. Williams Original No. 23.683 24, dated. January 6, 1942;

for. reissue.

Application 25 Claims. (Cl. 1140*103') This inventionrelates tomechanismior cutting and looping spring elements and. has for its princlpal objectthe provision of.a simple-mechanism. which is economical in manufacture and.hig h1y.- efficientin use.

It.is.,another. object of this invention to. pro.- vide an. automatic. machine whichwill. operate. to coilstraightwire into. a springunit, abate such operation .While.the coilspring is cut-into lengths, and. resume said. operation. and simultaneously therewith convey the severedlengthawayfrom;

the. machine.

Another object of. my invention. is the. provision. of. a..device..having cutting and forming diesandi.

a controlledcutting and. formingunit adapted to move into-operative relationwith respect tothe: dies for. the purpose of. severingaspring unit. dis? posed in the diesandtoform loops at the severed ends. of such spring. unit s.

Still. another object of. this invention is. the.

provision. of a. device for. separating the. severed. ends. of the. springunit-aften the cuttin operportion. of. the, spring unit in. the movable die.

member. during-the cutting; andforming opera? tion,. so that the. severed. spring-unit; will. beheld.

during the cutting. operation and-.thereafterwill. be. movable with .the forming. operation...

It. isa; further. object of; the. present invention. it to,-pr.ovide ameans for. releasably holding the. clamping meansfor the. severed. spring. unit.v out-- of. clamping position until the spring unit to be: acted upon isfeclinto the.- desired. position with. respect. to the cutting and; forming unit= andv the:- latter operated for the purpose :of severing the The; present invention: relates to, 8.2111801131115111; for; the cuttingand doc-ping, of spring elements while theprocess per se-is described andclaimed; f in my copending application .SerialwNo. 463,377..

entitled Method-otcutting. andlooping springs." filed October. 26, 1942.

Otherobjects,advantages .and novel aspects. of &

my. invention will appearrmore. ful1y;as.the;de

vice. is described in. conjunction. with-the draw-- ings. in. which:

Fig. 1, is; a fragmentary perspectivezviewof .the-

cutting and. formin unit. showing; the; several:

parts.- therein :illust-ratedin. normal position; 4

movable. die. member forthe Fig. 21is.a.plan.view of the machine embodying. my invention;.

Fig.3 isa vertical.sectionaLdetailiview. through the cutting andiformingunit' andis t'akensub stanti'ally. along line 3.-3Tin Fist 2;.

Fig. 4 is a vertisalfsectionall dt'aiL'view sub.- stantially, like. Fig. 3.- but. slightly. reduced in. scale with. respect, thereto, andiillustrating. the parts thereof in cutting. and formingposition;

' Fig, .5. is.a. fragmentary, perspective view illustratingthe. firstlst'epin the cuttingv operation;

Fig. 6 is. asfi'agmentary, perspective. view,v complementaryto.'Fi'g.. 5, illustrating the shearing. operation;

Fig. 7-is a perspectiveview of'one ofthe forming. diesillustrating. the gradual steps in. the loop formingoperat'ion;

' Fig.8 is. a... perspective view: ofacrimping die adaptedto cooperate. with. the: forming die of" Fig. 7.;,

Figs. 9a, 95,, 9o...9d, ,9e. and' 9f are illustrative oftheprihcipai'steps .in' the cutting andforming I operation, showing, a. spring. unit' in. the various stages. from .startto and Fig. .10 is. a. foreshortenedperspective? view of a finished spring showing. the. two ends. thereof." looped for use.

The general. arrangement; is. best. disolosed in Fig. 2 of the.drawings;.wherein. Ill imiicates.a v bed plate; or. tablewhich. forms the. substructure of-the entire-:machine- Mountedlomthe bed'nplate. l (l is a. wire.- coiling. unit H having, conventionali gearing. .(not shown). adapted tob'edriven through. shaft .1 2-.in. turn drivingly connected .with-.a.-pulley.

.. l3..havinggabeltdrive. Iloperatively trained over a. like. pulley associated with. suitable: drive. shaftonsouroe of motion...

The. wirev coiling. unit. I I. has theusual. feed rollers ISwint WI'iich-straight Wire- I6 is fedand the; rails. 20c at thelineaotr. juncture. of, the two it blocks. l 9H and... 22 Betweemthea 1egss24 there. is arrangedfor slidable :movement a. carriage. 26'- which carriage. 2.6:: has. disposed thereon; among other-things; an guide? element-'21::- the :lower: ends. 28-1. of;= which ist; normal-kw disposed between. the

abutting gends-ot the bl00k-:elem-ents l9tands2 2t The-blocksl'aisrdisppsed neatest-thecoilingunit;

unit. I85 comprises. in. the. main as stationary; block 1 I Bsfrom .which. extends a: pair. of. railsamtgroovecirass at. 24: to provide-a t 22 which is normally urged toward block 19 by a.

is such that the compression force of the helicalspring 29 may be varied by adjusting the screw anchor 33 to position the anchor 33 nearer to the block 22, thus increasing the force against the block 22 or to withdraw the screw anchor 33 to relieve the spring pressure on the block 22.

The abutting faces of the two blocks I8 and 22, heretofore referred to, are provided with tooled die units 36 and 31 respectively for reasons hereinafter to be explained. Each of the blocks l9 and 22 has formed therein a guideway 38 for the passage of the coil spring S produced on the wire coiling unit H, and these guideways 38 are in axial alignmentwith the spring as it emerges from the coiling die H such that the normal operation of the coiling unit will automatically feed the finished spring S into and through the guideways 38 until the desired length of spring has passed beyond the die units 36-31. The coiling unit II will be shut off to stop the feeding of the spring. S, by and through the medium of a shut-offlover 39 operatively connected with the unit II and linked for operation to the main control lever 40 by a rod 4|, such that when the lever 40, which is normally latched in raised position, is released for downward rotative movement about its pivotal connection at 42 on the frame 23, the rod 4| will be depressed to operate the normally open shut-off lever 39 to stop the operation of the wire coiling unit until the lever 40 again resumes normal position.

The main control lever 40'is latched in raised position by a latch 43 slidably arranged on lever 40 and normally urged by a spring-operatedpalm on a pair of arms 46 pivotally supported on the frame 23 and lying against rollers 41 on lever 46 to hold the arms 46 in position to receive the 1atch43. A link 48 connects the main control lever 48 to the vertically movable carriage 26 such that upon release of the latch 43 from notch 45 the depression of lever 40 will likewise depress the carriage 26. The movable block 22 has its center portion 53 raised slightly above the uppermost surface of the rails 28, and in this raised portion 53 there is cut a slot 54 clear through to the guideway 38 in block 22. There is disposed in the slot 54 for vertical movement relative thereto a clamping jaw 55, the lower end 56 of which is formed to bear down against the coil spring S passing through the guideway 38 to hold the spring S in vise-likefashion in the shifting block 22'for reasons hereinafter to become apparent. A pair of vertically disposed studs 51 have support on and extend upwardly from the block 53 and bridging the upper ends of these studs 51 is a plate 58 having its central portion directly above the movable jaw 55. A compression spring 58 is arranged between the jaw 55 and the plate 58 upon a rod 68 which is fixed to and extends upwardly from the jaw 55 and has its lower end flared out as at 6| to provide a seat for the lower end of the spring 59;' the upper end of the rod 68 extending through a passage 62' grip 44 toward and into a notch 45 formed spring elements disposed within block 22 but havformed in the plate 58 tosupportthe spring and rod in vertical position and to guide the movement of its headed end 63 which carries a pair of locked nuts 64 whereby the headed end 63 is normally but releasably latched in a yoke formation 65 formed in the end of a stud 66 extending vertically from the carriage 26 for movement there with.

By the foregoing arrangement of parts there is provided a means for clamping spring elements S within the movable block 22. The clamping jaw 55 is normally out of clamping relationship with ing an immediate clamping action upon such spring elements when the lever 40 is depressed as aforesaid and the carriage 26 descends to thereby release the yoke 65 from its hold on the spring-urged rod 60 and the clamping jaw connected thereto.

From the disclosure of Fig. 2, it is made ap-" parent that the frame 23 is disposed at an angle to the axis of the coil spring S, which angle places the frame and its associated parts in a plane parallel to the pitch on the coils of thespring S. As hereinbefore stated, the carriage 26 has arranged thereon a guide element 21 the: lower end 28 of which is disposed between the: abutting ends of the blocks l9 and 22. Referringto Fig. 5, it will be noted that the guide element 21 is adapted to' move up and down with one .(left-hand) edge 49 thereof immediately adjacent the spring S as it passes through the.- guideways 38 and that there extends from such: edge 49 a laterally extending and projectingfinger 58, the lower end 5| of which is ground to a keen edge. This edge 5| is so disposed as to provide an inverted U-shape d trough U adapted to ride upon the spring S and to provide a shearing edge 0 at the bight of the trough U. The edge 5| is arranged such that upon descent of the carriage 23 the edge 5| will act as a wedge to spread the convolutions of the spring S, thus clearing the way for the shearing or cutting edge element l6, thus severing the same at such shearing point and leaving a free spring unit 52 to the right of the frame 23 within the movable block 22, any shavings or fillings by reason of the cutting operation falling straight down through an opening in the bed plate I6; it being noted that dun'ngthis shearing operation such free end of the coil spring S is held by the clamping jaw 55 within the block 22.

Immediately above the plane of the cutting edge C in vertical alignment with the guide element 21 is a cam formation 61 which is movable with the guide 21 and carriage 26 for engagement with a beveled edge 68 on the. die 31 carried by the movable block 22. As seen in Fig. 3, the downward movement of this cam 61 will urge the block 22 and all parts carried thereby to the right including the spring unit 52 now severed from the main unit S, thereby spreading the several ends' sprin members acted upon (see Fig. 9d).

cred, ends-of the spring units; S and 52.: In this regard, reference is made to Fig. '7 wherein die Ills shown as: having a. leading edge ll adapted to bear against the side wall of the. spring: 52

to keep the latter in abutting relation. with the inner side wall of the guideway 38. A forming edge E2 extends. slightly beyond the edge H and has its lowermostv edge 13 wedge-shaped so. a to pivot. the two outside convolutions L in a direction away from the main body (S or 52:) of the A second forming edge 14, having its lower edge onxan acute angle, is adapted to further swing the. already pivoted end convolution L into the position shown in Fig. 9e.

The. final forming operation by the die 69. or

ll! is. adapted to be performed concurrently with. a

crimping or bending operation. by. cam elements 19-80 which are. associated with the dies 69'lfl respectively. This final: ope-ration will best be understood. in the light of. Figs. 7 and 8 taken togather; wherein the die 19 is substantially in its plans of horizontal alignment with the cam 89 (and T9) which cam. is formed on. that. side 81 of the cam block 61- facing the sheared ends of the several springs S and 52.

The. die 10 (also 69) has a forming edge 16, in

addition to those already mentioned, which forming edge 16 has an arcuated lower edge 11. with a sweeping rise to anextreme extending. edge 18 thereof. crimping, cam- 99- engages. the loop L at its point of: connection with the main body of the spring 52 and simultaneously therewith the forming edge 16 of the forming die 1.9 engages the extending loop L approximately at, its mid portion (Fig. 99)

Astheextreme edges wand 89 of the two coacting cams come into engagement with the loop L, a positive. bend or crimp will be efiected in the wire elementv l6 at the point of connection between the loop L and the spring52.

It will be apparent that the foregoing description of structure and operation pertaining to the forming die 19 and the crimping cam 89 is equally applicable to the forming die 69 and crimping cam 19 (Figs. 9d, 9e, and 9f) and that in the forming and crimping operation the sheared ends of each of the spring units S and 52 are looped as explained. By reason of this simultaneous looping operation, the leading end of the spring unit S is prepared first and the trailing end of such unit S, after it has been severed into an individual spring unit 52, is subsequently formedto provide a like loop, thus leaving a completed spring 52 (as; shown in Fig. 10) clamped within the block 22.

The cutting and. forming operations. having' been completed by reason of a full depression. of the main control lever 49, the latter is then swung upwardly to raise the carriag 26. and its associated parts. It will be noted that by reason of the block 22. having shifted to the right, as seen in Fig. l the spring and rod assembly 59-69 of the clamping jaw is out of vertical alignment with the latching yoke and that. the,stud 66 and yoke 65 will ascend with the carriage 26 beyond the horizontal plane of the headed end 63 on the rod 60 before there is a positive coupling. For thisreason there is provided a novel coupling means which will operate automatically during the return movement of the main control lever 49.

The: coupling: means, best illustrated inFig. 1, is. generallyindicated at 82 and comprises; a swinging support. in. the form of. a, lever pivotally arranged as at; 84: on the laterally extend: i-ng stud 95. in. turn carried by the. frame 23 to provide a fixed pivot. The. opposite; end of the lever 83 p'lvotally connected as'at. 86; to the lower end of: a. link 81, the. upperend of which. link has pivotal connection as at 8-8 to: one end of: a stud. 99; which is attached, to and carried by the lever ill. at a point spaced from its fulcrum 42 so that the stud 99 will bemovable. with the lever 49 to.- impart a swin ing motion to; the swinging support or lever 83. The main. coupling tool is arranged on the swinging support 8:3 midway of its ends by suspending a vertically disposed base plate 99' from the lever 83, the plate 90- having a loose pin connection 9| with such lever 83.. The lower end 92 of plate 99 is provided with a trunnion wherein there is arranged on a horizontal axis 93 an upwardly extending coupling finger 94having a forked upper end 95; bent outwardly in a direction awayirom the plate 90. This finger The, arrangement is such that the 94 is normally held in parallelism with respect to the plate by providing thefinger 94 with a headed pin. 96 carried by the. finger 94 and extending through an opening or slot 91 formed in the platev 90, there being a headed portion 96 on this. pin 96 and a. spring 9.9- arranged. between the head 98 and the. plate 9.0.

When the carriage 26'is lowered as hereinbeiore explained, the coupling means is likewise. lowered a proportionate amount and assumes a position relative, to the rod. 69 of the spring clamping means as is shown in Fig. 4. 'As the lever 40' is raised to return the same to normal position as seen in Fig.1, the forked finger --94 will be raised simultaneously therewith so that the fork 95 will engage beneath the nut elements 64 on the headed end 63 of therod 66, it being clearly shown that such engagement will take place before the cam 61 releases the block 22 for return movement. Upon subsequent ascension of the carriage 26 the cam 61 will gradually release the base for movement toward the left by its spring 29, such continued ascension at the same time causing the finger 94 to impart a lifting action on the headed rod 60, thereby raising the jaw 55 out of engagement with the spring unit. 52 to release the latter for continued movement through the guideway 36.

As the block 22 moves to the left, the finger 94 is free to swing in a counterclockwise direction about the axis 95 and by reason thereof the finger 94 will continue to raise the. headed end 63 of the rod 69 concurrently with the ascension of the yoke 65. The lower end of the yoke formation 65 is provided with a cam surface Hill against which the yoke fingers 95 will bear so that as. the lever 49, carriage 2.6, and coupling unit reach their extreme uppermost position the yoke 95 will be cammed back toward the plate 90.

When the fork 95 has been sufliciently cammed away from the yoke 65, the latter will become positioned under the headnuts 64 and when the tension or frictional bearing between the fork 95 and the head nuts 64. is relieved the spring '99 will snap the finger 94 back to vertical condition.

It will be noted that upon the return movement of the carriage 2B, the laterally extending finger 5|) will again engage thespring S. In order not to distort the completed or looped end L of the disposed top surface. When the carriage 26 is raised as aforesaid, the surface of the projection 50 will bear against the finishedend of the spring S and the latter will be flexed into the flared portion IIO of the guideway 38, thereby permitting a by-pass for the finger 50. When the finger 50 has resumed its normally raised position, the spring S will by its ownresiliency return into axial alignment with the main body thereof. The lever 40 will by that time have reached its fully raised position where it will again be latched by bolt 43 and notch 45, and by the-same token the rod M will have been lifted to raise the shutoff lever 39 on the wire coiling unit II, whereupon the wire IE will again be drawn through the feeding rollers I5 and another section of coil spring S emitted from the coiling die I'I. Such additional length of spring S will be fed into the guideways 38 in the blocks I9 and 22 as hereinbefore explained, the completed unit 52 hav-' ing previously been drawn to the right, beyond the block 21 into a conveyor tray IOI positioned on the cross beam 34. The tray II is adapted to receive and guide completed springs toward a pair of extracting rollers I02 and I03, the uppermost one I02 of which is drivingly connected to a shaft I04 journaled in bearing blocks I05. The shaft I04 is connected by bevel gears I06 to a drive shaft I01 having power connection through belt and pulley I08 with the main drive shaft I2. Spring units 52 extracted through the rollers I 02--I03 are fed into an inclined chute I09 for conveyance into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The rollers I02-I03 are provided with a tensioner adjustment III (Fig. 1) for setting the pulling action of the rollers. By this arrangement completed springs have their free end extended into the rollers I02-I 03 which slippingly ride over such free end until clamping jaw 55 is released, whereupon the rollers I02- I03 effect a withdrawal of the spring 52.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect; this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself to such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit into separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving said movable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in a direction away from the body portion of therespecti've spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions atright angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid.

2. In a device of the class described a fixed bed and a movable bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a ly engaging said spring unit when the movable bed isshifted as aforesaid, means on said carria ge flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends. in a direction away from the body portion. of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping saidlast two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, means for feeding a spring unit along said path of movement, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and havingv ashear portion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit into separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving said movable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends of said sheared spring, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends in a direction away from the body portion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid and for automatically stopping said means for feeding the spring unit along said aforementioned path of 'movement during the shearing and forming operation.

4. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable'bed, means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, means for feeding of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, means for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purpose aforesaid and for automatically stopping said means for feeding the spring unit along said aforementioned path of movement during the shearing and forming operation, and automatic means for drawing the severed .portion of said spring unit away from said'movable bed when the latter is permitted to return to normal position.

5. Imp, device for cutting and forming looped ends on springs, a stationary die, a movable die, means normally urging the latter toward the former, said dies providing a path of movement for a spring to be acted upon, means for cutting said spring into two pieces and for forming a loop at the severed ends of the respective pieces, said means comprising a carriage arranged for verttowl movement, a shear :on :said carriage and tnwiing a portion thereof disposed between said aforesaid, and means for effecting movement of the carriage for the :purpose aforesaid.

6. a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring un it along said fixed and movable gflideways, together with cuttingand forming moans arranged for verticalmovement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted ft'o descen'd'for the purpose of severing said spring into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring "unit in said movable guideway,

and means connecting said movable jaw with said v cutting and forming means for movement therewith.

"7. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feed-.

ing a spring unit .along said fixed and movable :guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movable guideway 'for gripping said length of spring :unit to hold the latter during the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit in said movable guideway, means normally urging said movable jaw toward said spring unit to "clamp the latter in vise-like action in said guideway, means on said cutting and forming moans for releasably holding said movable jaw outof said normal position and adapted to .release the movable aw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and .means'rfor recoupling said movable jaw with said cutting and forming means when the latter ascends toward normal position.

8. In a device of the class described including @a fixed guideway and -a movable guideway .nor mally urged toward the former, means -for. feedmg a spring unit along said fined and movable guldeways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said -fixed and movable guideway-s and adapted to descend-for the purpose of severing said spring unit Pinto desired lengths and to form loops '=on thesevered ends of said spring vlengthsgthe combination of means on said movable guideway 01 gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on .said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means .on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said-movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid.

9. In a device of the class described including :a fixed guidewayand a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding' a spring unit along said fixed and movable g-uideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable :guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and "forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw a1 ranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring uni-t, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said movable jaw with said cutting :and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position.

.10. In adevice-of the class described including a, fixed guideway, and -a movable guideway normally urged toward the tor-men, means for feeding a spring'unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and vforming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said springunit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends-of said spring lengths, the combination-of meanson said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including .a guide formation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation towardsand away from the spring unit, means -on said cutting and forming means for .releasabl holding said clamping means inraised position and for releasinto desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripiping said length of spring .unit to hold the latter during the cutting and ior-ming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide .formation'on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate .in said guide formation toward and away from the spring-unit, means on said cutting and vforming means tor releasablyvholding said clamping means in raised position and for remeans arranged for vertical movement between,

descend for the purpose of severing said spring,

said fixed and movable guide'ways and adapted to unit into desired lengths'and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of springunit to hold th latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasabl holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said gripping means with said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position.

13. In a-device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable 'guideways and adapted to descend, for the purposeof severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed endsof said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter.

during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movable guideway, a 'movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple said' movable jaw with said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position, and means frictionally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the sam from said movable guideway.

' tion on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said clamping means in raised position and for releasing said clamping means when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, and means frictionally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the same from said movable guideway. I

15. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means includin a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid, coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and form.- ing' means and adapted to couple said gripping means with said cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normal position, and means frictionally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the same from said movable guideway. I

16. In an apparatus of the kind described for making springs, means for coiling wire, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, said coil, as it is formed, advancing away from said coiling means, means for severing the advanced coil into predetenninedlengths, devices for, forming attaching connections from proxi- ,mate portions of the coil, and means for operating said severing means and forming devices in predetermined order to provide springs each with attaching connections at its ends.

1'7. In an apparatus of the kind described, embodyin means for coiling wire, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, and means for moving the coil away from said coiling means, a support providing a path of movement for the coil away from said moving means, releasable means associated with the support for gripping the wire coil, means for severing the advanced coil into predetermined lengths, devices associated with said severing meansfor forming loops adjacent said proximate severed ends of the 1 coil, and means for alternately arrestin and op- 14. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and a movable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding a spring unit along said fixed and movable guideways,'together with cutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guide formaerating said severing means and loop forming devices.

18. In an apparatus of the kind described, embodying means for coiling wire, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, and means for moving the coil away from said coiling means, a support providing a path of movement for the coil away from said moving means, separable devices in said support for gripping the wire coil, means for severing the advanced coil into predetermined lengths, means for moving said separable devices to shift the severed length of the wire coil away from the other portion of the coil, devices'for forming loops contemporaneously upon the proximate spaced severed ends of the coil, and means for alternately arresting and operating the severing means and the devices for forming the loops.

19. In an apparatus of the kind described including wire coiling means, fixed and movable beds providing a path of movement for a wire coil to be operated upon, a movable carriage adjacent said beds, a blade on said carriage and operable between said beds to shear the coil into a predeterminedlength, means adapted to shift the movable bed away from the fixed bed to separate the proximate severed ends of the coil, forming devices operable to form loops contemporaneously upon the separated ends of the coil, and means for moving said carriage in predetermined synchronism with the wire coiling means.

20. In an apparatus of the kind described, fixed and movable beds providing a path of movement for a wire coil to be operated upon, a movable carriage adjacent said beds, a blade on said carriage and operable between said beds to shear the coil into predetermined length, means adapted to shift the movable bed away from the fixed bed to separate the proximate severed ends of the coil, forming devices operable to form loops upon the separated ends of the coil, in combination with a wire coiling element positioned and operating to advance the wire coil to and upon said beds, a control for said wire coiling element, and an operative connection respectively between said control and the severing and loop forming devices.

21. In an apparatus of the kind described, fixed and movable beds providing a path of movement for a wire coil to be operated upon, a movable carriage adjacent said beds, a blade on said carriage and operable between said beds to shear the coil into a predetermined length, means adapted to shift the movable bed away from the fixed bed to separate the proximate severed ends 01 the coil, forming devices operable to form loops upon the separated ends of the coil, in combination with a wire coiling element positioned and operating to advance the wire coil to and upon said beds, driving means for actuating said wire coiling element, a control interposed in said driving means, and an operative connection respectively between said control and the severing and loop forming devices, the said control and said operative connection adapted to arrest operation of said wire coiling element and to operate said severing and loop forming devices.

22. In an apparatus for coiling wire, severing into predetermined lengths, and forming loops at the ends of the severed lengths, means for coiling wire into a helical spring, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, means for moving the coiled spring away from said coiling means, a fixed bed, a movable bed normally urged towards said fixed bed, said beds providing a path of movement for the coiled spring, a movable carriage above said beds, a severing device on said carriage adapted for movement between said beds to sever a length of coiled spring, means adapted to shift said movable bed away from said fixed bed to separate the severed ends of the coiled spring, means adapted to flex the severed ends of the spring away from their respective body portions, a complementary means for crimping said fiexed ends of the spring at a right angle-to the respective I body portions, and means for moving said carriage with respect to said beds.

23. In an apparatus for coiling wire, severing into predetermined lengths, and forming loops at the ends of the severed lengths, means for coiling wire into a helical spring, means for. feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, means for moving the coiled spring away from said coiling means, a fixed bed, a movable bed normally urged toward said fixed bed, said beds providing a path of movement for the coiled spring, a movable carriage above said beds, a severing device on said carriage adapted for movement between said beds to, sever a length of coiled spring, means mounted on and movable with said carriage for shifting said movable bed away from said fixed bed to separate the severed ends of the coiled spring, means on said carriage adapted to flex the severed ends of the spring away from their respective body portions, a complementary means for crimping said fiexed ends of the spring at a right angle to the respective body portions, and means for moving said carriage with respect to said beds.

- 24. In an apparatus for coiling wire, severing into predetermined lengths, and forming loops at the ends of the severed lengths, means for coiling wire into a helical spring, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, means for moving the coiled spring away from said coiling means, a fixed bed, a movable bed normally urged towards said fixed bed, said beds providing a path of movement for the coiled spring, devices adapted to grip the coiled spring at a predetermined length, a movable carriage above said beds, a severing device on said carriage adapted for movement between said beds to sever a length of coiled spring, means actuated by the movement of said carriage for shifting said movable bed away from said fixed bed to separate the severed ends of the coiled spring, means on said carriage adapted to fiex the severed ends of the spring away from their respective body portions, a complementary means for crimping said flexed ends of the spring each at a right angle to its respective body portions, and means for moving said carriage with respect to said beds.

25. In an apparatus for coiling wire, severing into predetermined lengths, and forming loops at the ends of the severed lengths, means for coiling wire into a helical spring, means for feeding a continuous wire to said coiling means, means for moving the coiled spring away from said coiling means, a fixed bed, a movable 'bed normally urged towards said fixed bed, said beds providing a path of movement for the coiled spring, a movable carriage above said beds, a severing device on said carriage adapted for movement between said beds to sever a length of coiled spring, means on said carriage for shifting said movable bed away from said fixed bed to separate the severed ends of the coiled spring, forming elements mounted on said carriage, said elements adapted to move with saidcarriage to flex the severed ends of the spring away from their respective body portions and form said fiexed ends of the spring into loops, and means for moving said carriage with respect to said beds.

CARL G. HICKS. 

